The Best Beauty Finds in Clothing Retailers

When you check out at the drugstore, you’re bombarded with an array of tiny tempting items to throw into your purchase. You need gum, right? A travel-sized container of Advil? Maybe some cherry Chapstick. Recently, shoppers are experiencing similar point of sale impulse purchases at their favorite fashion boutiques. Stores like J.Crew, Urban Outfitters, and even Forever21 have amped up their beauty presence, curating a selection of products from a handful of brands (both in house and partner) to round out the lifestyle experience they want their customers to have.

“Urban Outfitters is a lifestyle brand and our customers look to us for innovation in fashion, but they also expect to learn about new trends that impact all aspects of their lives,” says Laura Johnson, Executive Director of Women’s Apparel and Accessories for Urban Outfitters. “Color cosmetics, skin treatments, and hair care are all exciting categories to explore.”

The retail chain has quickly become the biggest U.S. distributor of Korean beauty products after buyers sampled and fell in love with several creams and treatments. Urban Outfitters also stocks both mass brands and small made-to-order companies, all of which is sourced and sampled by a dedicated team of beauty buyers.  “From massive corporations to tiny kitchens there are extraordinary new ideas born every day,” says Johnson. “We have our radar on 24/7.”

They’re not the only ones. Below, the best places to discover new products—while shopping for new outfits.

Urban Outfitters:  Kitschy design, cleaver ingredients, Korean scores 

Holika Holika Heartful Silky Lipstick ($12)
This irresistible Korean cult-favorite is a heart-shaped lipstick with a vibrant, matte finish. Sweet orange oil, grapefruit oil, and olive oil protect and hydrate your pout.

TONYMOLY Wonder Butter Moisture Cream ($24)
This whipped combo of shea butter, sunflower oil, mango seed butter, cocoa butter, and argan oil packs a nourishing punch without feeling greasy.

Skinfood Quinoa Rich Body Oil ($16)
Loaded with skin-benefitting protein and natural quinoa extract, this Korean oil will leave you feeling nourished and silky smooth.

Peripera Peri’s Tint Water ($12)
This longwear lip stain comes courtesy of a typically impossible-to-find-stateside Korean brand. Aside from the playful packaging, it comes in three juice-inspired hues and is made from hydrating fruit complexes.

J.Crew: Exclusive collaborations, timeless classics, and well-curated makeup and skincare products from lesser-known brands

Headhunter Heavy Duty Sunscreen ($12.50)
Two brothers, both of whom were lifeguards, created the first sunscreen specifically formulated for surfers. For you, that means ultra-waterproof protection that blocks UV rays, but won’t clog your pores.

Stop the Water While Using Me All-Natural Lemon Honey Soap ($16.50)
This environmentally friendly brand has a great message and a slew of quality products like this honey and essential oil-infused hand soap.

tenoverten for J.Crew nail polish ($8)
The retailer paired up with tenoverten, a hip Manhattan salon, for custom shades of lacquer you can’t buy anywhere else.

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Forever 21: Trendy cosmetics and beauty accessories that cost less than your Starbucks order

Shocking Cobalt Nail Polish ($2.80)
If you’re the type of girl who changes her polish every other day, stock up on the store’s trendy shades. You can wear them only a few times without feeling guilty about the price.

Lovely Lips Paddle Brush ($3.80)
Who doesn’t love a playful lip print? If you have long hair, a big cushioned paddle brush is the way to go.

Green Tea Cleansing Tissues ($2.80)
Refreshing and gentle, stash these in your gym bag for a quick wipe down.

You might like: All the Wipes You’d Ever Need 

Anthropologie: Whimsical packaging and great hostess gifts

Swedish Dream Soap ($7)
The invigorating natural salts in this creamy soap will make your shower as invigorating as a quick dip in the ocean. Almost.

Mara Hoffman Candle ($36)
Exclusive to the Anthropologie, the sandalwood teak scent is housed in an incredibly cool refillable pyramid-shaped holder by the New York-based designer.

RMS Beauty Living Luminizer ($38)
This all-natural highlighter, made of castor seed oil, coconut oil, beeswax, and mica, is a celebrity favorite. And for good reason, it imparts a dewy, natural glow.

H&M: Affordable treatments and great makeup bags

Facial Masks ($2.95 each)
From a coconut water cleansing mask to a manuka honey peel-off mask, these individual packets are great for traveling.

Quick Dry for Nail Polish ($4.95)
Apply your polish, wait 60 seconds, and spritz this on for a manicure that dries almost instantly.

Perforated Faux-Leather Makeup Bag ($6.95)
Cool enough to pull out of your tote in public and large enough to hold everything you need.

American Apparel: Bright nail polish and natural products

Nature Girl Roots Rock Creme Rinse ($28)
Infused with lavender, rose, and natural veggie oils, this adds volume and shine to any hair type. Leave on for a few minutes and rinse out.

Sheer Nail Polish ($7)
This muted take on bright polish is quick-drying and completely low-maintenance, a.k.a. perfect.

Hurraw Lip Balm ($3.80)

These natural, vegan, organic balms come in 11 great varieties, but the tangerine chamomile sun balm with SPF 15 is the best.

Topshop: Colorful quality cosmetics and British imports

Balmi Cube Lip Balm in Strawberry ($10)
The UK’s version of eos, this little tub has a cult following. It’s known for its high shine and delicious scent.

Sheer lips in Nuclear ($16)
These hydrating lipsticks with a balmy finish continually get rave reviews. Want more color? Keep layering.

Kabuki Brush in Nuclear ($16)
This beautiful and ultra-soft brush delivers a seamless application and doesn’t absorb too much product—a great find for this price point.

Victoria’s Secret: Luminizers, tanners, hair styling products, and ultra sweet-smelling body sprays

Soft & Tousled Wave Enhancing Spray ($10)
Dream of the softly tousled beach waves on the brand’s models? This will help get you there.

Self-Tanning Tinted Spray ($15)
An natural-looking airbrushed tan at home? Yes, please.

Smoky Exotics Eye Palette ($28)
These 10 neutral shades are similar to the big brand shadowboxes, but much more affordable.